Apparatus for filling structural clay tile



Jan. 18, 1966 c. AUGSBURGER 3,229,366

APPARATUS FOR FILLING STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE Filed Oct. 7, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 1 LO N ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 c. AUGSBURGER 3,229,360

APPARATUS FOR FILLING STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE Filed Oct. 7, 1965 7Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C 616 A 531210 62" BY 9/ 7 "a7 .9 FW,W& W

ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 c. AUGSBURGER 3,229,360

APPARATUS FOR FILLING STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE Filed Oct. 7, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Q IE Z1121 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 c. AUGSBURGER 3,229,360

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ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 c. AUGSBURGER APPARATUS FOR FILLING STRUCTURALCLAY TILE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;.

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ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 c. AUGSBURGER 3,229,360

APPARATUS FOR FILLING STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE Filed Oct. 7, 1963 '7Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,229,360 Patented Jan. 18, 19663,229,360 APPARATUS FOR FILLING STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE Clyde Augsburger,Canton, Ohio, assignor to Natco Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,195 Claims.(Cl. 29-200) This invention relates to a device for inserting a pliablestrip of sound-absorbing material into a cavity of a rigid walled body.More particularly, it pertains to a device for filling the cells of astructural clay tile with fiber glass strips by the use of a partialvacuum.

There is an increasing tendency to build sound-absorbing properties intomaterials forming walls and ceilings forming rooms of a building. Thattendency has progressed to a high stage of development primarily withwood-fabricated materials. As a result a need for proper sound-proofingproperties in building materials has influenced products composed ofmaterial other than wood.

Among other things, it has been found that structural clay tile, whichis used primarily in load-bearing walls for buildings, may also beprovided with more desirable acoustical properties by providing theexposed surface of the tile with a random pattern of holes which passthrough the wall of the tile to the cells or Openings within the tile.Heretofore the holes permitted sound waves to pass into the tile andreturn after being reflected from an inner wall surface of the tile.

The acoustical properties of the tile can be greatly enhanced where theinner cells are filled with a soundabsorbing material. Indeed, the tilehas a better sound when the inner cells are filled with such material,even though the tile is not provided with the random pattern ofsound-receiving holes.

Associated with the foregoing is the problem of inserting or stufiing asoft pliable material such as fiber glass into the cells of the tile ina friction-tight manner. The problem involves the insertion of a pad ofsound-proofing material into the cell of a tile in a minimum of time toprovide a low cost product. The problem is complicated by the fact thatthe soft pliable material such as fiber glass should be large enough toengage the walls of the cells of the tile in a friction-tight,slip-proof manner. If the material is not sufiiciently large, it willslip out of place during handling and shipment. It is, therefore,desirable to provide a device for inserting the material automaticallyand as inexpensively as possible.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providea new apparatus for filling structural clay tile with a sound-absorbingmaterial.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new apparatus forfilling structural clay tile with pliable fiber glass padsautomatically.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new apparatus forfilling structural clay tile with pliable pads by applying suction toone end of a tile cell opening.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a new apparatusfor filling structural clay tile with fiber glass pads automaticallywith a minimum of time and cost.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to ticularly anddistinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming apart hereof.

The nature of the improved apparatus of the present invention may bestated in general terms as including a tile conveyor belt means formoving spaced tile to a filling station, the filling station includingelevator means for lifting the tile off of the conveyor belt means, thefilling station means also including suction means engageable with oneend of a cell of the tile, means for providing and inserting a fiberglass pad into each cell of the tile and including clamps for engagingone end of the fiber glass pads and for moving the other end of the padinto the other end of the cell of the tile, and the clamps disengagingfrom the pad when the pad is completely inserted into the cell.

The nature of the improved method of filling structural clay tile withpliable enlongated pads of fiber glass of the present invention may bestated in general terms as including the steps of conveying a tile to afilling station, applying a suction to one end of a cell of the tile,insert ing a fiber glass pad into the cell from the other end whilemaintaining the suction to said one end until the fiber glass padcompletely fills the cell, removing the suction, and moving the filledtile out of the filling station to permit replacement by a subsequentstructural clay tile.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus may be shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the device with a portion brokenaway;

FIG. 2 is a plan view;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the side opposite that 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end view taken on the line S5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of an alternate position of the tileelevator and air-suction nozzle shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the fiber glass strip clamp in theunclamped position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the clamp in the clamped position;

FIG. 10 is a section-a1 view of the clamp taken on the line 1010 of FIG.9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the clamp taken on the line 1111 of FIG.8;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 12l2 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIG.12;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 12',

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1515 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of the pneumatically operated valves and cylindersused on the device;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a structuralclay tile with sound absorbent fiber glass pads in the cells adjacentthe apertured glazed surface; and

FIG. 18 is a wiring diagram.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The apparatus for filling structural clay tile is generally indicated atl in FIG. 1. It includes a frame 2, a continuous conveyor belt 3, and atile filling station generally indicated at 4. In addition the deviceincludes a station generally indicated at 5 for preparing and presentinga fiber glass pad in position for moving into the cell openings of thetile located at the filling station 4.

The frame 2 includes a pair of horizontal frame members 6 and 7 havingframe extension members 8 and 9. The frame members 6-9 extend throughoutthe length of the apparatus and are supported in place by verticalmembers 10 and 11 under each frame member 6 and 7. In addition the frameincludes inclined members 12 and 13 which extend between lower framemembers 14 and the opposite ends of the horizontal frame members 6 and7. Pairs of casters 15 and 16 are provided at the lower ends of thevertical frame members 10 and 11. In addition two position locks 17 and18 are provided for stabilizing the apparatus on the floor when it isoperated.

The frame 1 also includes upright angle members 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and24 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) which support the operating parts at the fillingstation 4 and the station for preparing and presenting fiber glass pads.

The conveyor belt 3 extends around and between a head pulley 25 and atail pulley 26. The pulley 25 (FIG. 3) is driven by a motor 27 through alink chain 28. The motor is attached to the under portion of the framemembers 6 and 7 in a conventional manner. The pulley 25 is mounted on apulley shaft 29 which extends between a pair of journals 30 and 31.

The pulley 26 is located at the loading end of the belt 3 (FIG. 3). Thedirection of belt movement is indicated by an arrow 32. The pulley 26 ismounted on a shaft 33, the ends of which are secured between similarbelt tighteners or take-up means 34 for moving the shaft 33longitudinally toward or away from the driven pulley 25. The belt 3 iscontinuous and extends below the undersurface of the horizontal framemembers 69 (FIG. 3) where it is retained and supported on spaced beltsupport pulleys 35, 36, and 37. When the belt 3 moves in the directionof-the arrow 32 individual tiles 38, such as shown in FIG. 17, areplaced manually on the belt. The belt 3 is supported on the frame on aslide plate 6:: which extends across and between and is coextensive withthe frame members 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 17, the structural tile 38 is a cellular membercomposed of clay and having four spaced cell openings 39 which extendlongitudinally of the tile 38. One surface 40 of the tile is finishedand has a plurality of randomly disposed holes or apertures 41 in thesurface for reducing the harsh acoustical properties of the tile whichotherwise exists. Accordingly, sound waves striking the finished surface40 enter the holes 41 which communicate with the inner cell openings 39adjacent the wall forming the surface 40. Within the cell openings 39the sound waves are modulated and reflected back through the holes 41and thereby have a reduced harshness of sound. The use ofsound-absorbing material, such as pads 42 of fiber glass, in the cellopenings, gives the sound waves reflected back out through the holes 41and even softer sound. It is the purpose of the device 1 to insert thepads 42 into the cell openings 39.

The apparatus 1 is provided with means for removing the particles offoreign materials from the cell openings including a compressed airnozzle 43 for blowing through the cell openings 39 as the tile 38 moveson the belt. A hood 44 is provided on the opposite side of the belt forreceiving the air blast and for collecting the foreign materialparticles into a particle-receiving receptacle (such as a bag not shownin the drawings) and attached to the hood. As shown in FIG. 3, thecompressed air nozzle 43 is actuated by the tile 38 as it passesover alimit switch 45 located on the frame member 6 as the tile moves alongthe belt.

The tile continues moving on the belt 3 until it reaches the fillingstation 5 where it strikes a limit switch 46 which is mounted on theframe member 6 adjacent the belt 3. As shown in FIG. 4 the tile 38 islonger than the width of the belt 3. As the tile 38 approaches thelocation of the filling station 5 the overlapping end portions strikethe upturned flanges 47 and 48 of a pair of horizontal bars 49 and 50.Simultaneously the tile actuates a lever 51 which is spring-biased to adotted position by a rod 52 which in turn is spring-biased to the left,as viewed in FIG. 5, by a coil spring 53. Lever 51 extends through aslot in the bar 50 and is pivotally mounted at 53a below the bar. Theright end of the rod strikes the limit switch 46 which actuates elevatormeans for immediately lifting the tile 38 off of the conveyor belt 3, sothat the belt may continue moving continuously without the necessity ofstopping to permit the filling operation of the tile.

The elevator means includes a pneumatic cylinder 54 having a rod 55extending downwardly therefrom. The upper end of the cylinder 54 isattached to and between the frame members 6 and 7 where the cylinder issecured in place. A cross bar 56 is attached to the lower end of the rod55. A pair of rods 57 and 58 is secured to opposite end portions of thebar 56 which extend to corresponding bearings 59 and 60 in which therods are slidably mounted. The bearings 59 and 60 are secured by boltmeans 61 to the underside of the frame members 6 and 7, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The bars 49 and 50 are attached to the upper ends of therods 57 and 58 so that retraction of the rod 55 into the cylinder 54raises the bars to lift the tile 38 off of the belt 3.

The lifting operation continues until the upper glazed surface 40 of thetile is pressed against a pad 62 of sealing material for sealing closedthe apertures 41 in the upper wall forming the glazed surface 40 of thetile. The pad 62 is composed of a resilient material such as foam rubberand is held in place by a backup plate 63 which in turn is reinforced bya pair of frame angle members 64 which extend between correspondingpairs of upright frame members 21 and 23 and 22 and 24.

After the tile is filled with the fiber glass pads 42 it is lowered tothe belt 3. For that purpose the rod 55 is advanced out of the cylinder54 to lower the bars 49 and 50 to positions below those shown in FIG. 4sufiiciently to lower the upper ends of the flanges 47 and 48 below theundersurface of the tile 38 and permit the tile to move on the belt.Sufiicient pressure is applied by the rod 55 on the rods 57 and 58 tocompress a pair of coil springs 65 between the upper ends of thebearings 59 and 60 and a nut and washer assembly 66 on each rod at theupper ends of the springs. As the tile 38 moves away from the fillingstation 5 (FIG. 3) it strikes a limit switch 67 which releases the rods57 and 58 and positions the bars 49 and 50 in the normal position, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to receive the next tile 38.

When the tile 38 is in the elevated position, as shown in FIG. 6, withthe upper glazed surface 40 compressed against the pad 62, the pad sealsthe upper ends of the holes 41. As the elevator means raises the tile anactuator 68 at one end of the cross bar 56 (FIG. 6) actuates a limitswitch 69 which is mounted on the vertical member 23. The limit switchcauses a pneumatic cylinder 70 (FIGS. 4 and 5) to advance a rod 71 whichmoves an air suction nozzle 72 against the open ends of the cellopenings 39. The nozzle 72 is a rectangular box-like member having aface plate 73 and a sealing pad 74 with aligned apertures 75therethrough. The apertures are brought into sealing communication withthe cell openings 39 (FIG. 6 The pad 74 is preferably composed of aresilient material such as foam rubber which creates an air seal whenplaced against the end of the tile 38.

Subsequently when an air suction is applied to the nozzle 72 through anair exhaust conduit 76, the cell openings 39 adjacent thereto which areto be filled with fiber glass pads 42 are partially evacuated of airthereby enabling the filling of the openings with the fiber glass.Without the partial vacuum created as the ends of the pads start toenter the openings 39, the friction between the pad and the wallsforming the openings 39 would be excessive and render the fillingoperation practically impossible. The vacuum nozzle permits the use of apad having a slightly greater dimension than that of the cell openings.Once installed the pads remain in position during the shipment of thetile 38.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 15, the cylinder 70 is mounted on a supportplate 77 which is secured to a pair of spaced brackets 78 extendingoutwardly from the vertical frame members 23 and 24. The nozzle 72 ismounted in place by members 79, 80, and 81, the latter of which isdisposed between a pair of similarly spaced rods 82 which in turn areslidably mounted in similar journals 83. Accordingly, the cylinder rod71 advances and presses the nozzle 72 against the cell openings 39 whenthe tile 38 is raised and clamped against the pad 62. After the cellopenings 39 are filled with the fiber glass pads 42, the cylinder rod 71retracts and pulls the nozzle 72 away from the tile.

The station 5 for preparing and presenting the fiber glass pads 42 islocated on one side (FIG. 2) of the belt 3. Although the particular tile38 is composed of four cell openings 39 (FIG. 17), only two of which arefilled with pads 42, it is understood that a tile having any othernumber of openings may be similarly filled with pads by a slightmodification of the apparatus 1. Inasmuch as the tile 38 has twoadjacent cell openings 39 to be filled with two spaced fiber glass pads42, the station 5 is adapted for preparing, presenting, and moving thepads into contact with the ends of the cell openings 39 remote from thesuction nozzle 72.

As shown in FIG. 1, the station 5 includes two spaced shafts 84 and 85on which separate coils 86 and 87 of fiber glass are mounted. The outerend portions of each coil extend upwardly and around the outer ends of alayout table for each coil end portion. For that purpose, the coil endportions are supported by a pair of rollers 88 and 89 which aresimilarly disposed, as shown in FIG. 7, at opposite ends of the feedtables 90 and 91.

As part of the station 5 the tables 90 and 91 are supported on a pair ofhorizontal frame members 92 and 93 which are attached to and extend fromthe corresponding vertical frame members 21 and 23, and 22 and 24. Fourvertical legs 94, 95, 96, and 97 are mounted on the members 92 and 93 tosupport a pair of spaced horizontal table frame members 98 and 99, themember 98 being attached to the upper ends of the legs 94 and 95 and themember 99 being attached to the upper ends of the legs 96 and 97. Theextremities of the horizontal members 98 and 99 are interconnected byframe members 100 and 101 and an intermediate member 102 extends betweenthe members 98 and 99 at the location separating the tables 90 and 91.

In addition the feed tables 90 and 91 include horizontal frame members103 and 104 (FIG. 7) as well as horizontal frame members 105 and 106(FIG. 2). The members 103 and 105 are parallel to each other and aresupported on the table frame member 100' as shown for member 103 in FIG.7. Likewise, the members 104 and 106 are parallel to each other and aresupported on the member 101. A plate 107 extends across and between theframe members 103 and 105 to form the surface for the table 90.Similarly, a plate 108 extends across and between the frame members 104and 106 to form the surface for the feed table 91.

The end portions 86 and 87 of the coils of fiber glass extend over thefeed tables 90 and 91 toward a pair of pad cutting saws 109 and 110. Thefiber glass is advanced toward the saws intermittently by a pair of feedclamp means 111 and 112 on the tables 90 and 91, respectively. Eachclamp means operates to advance a corresponding end portion of fiberglass toward the corresponding saw blades 109 and 110 in accordance witha sequence of operation to be described below. The feed clamp means 111and 112 are identical. As shown in FIGS. 7-11, the means 111 includes asubstantially horizontal pneumatic cylinder 113 and a vertical cylinder114. The lift end of the cylinder 113 (FIG. 7) is pivotally attached at115 to a U-shaped bracket 116 having a horizontal member 117 and a pairof similar vertical members 118, the lower ends 6 of which are securedto the frame members 103 and (FIG. 7).

The other end of the cylinder has a piston rod 119 extending therefromand attached to a clamp reinforcing channel 120 which is secured to anupper side 121 of a U-shaped clamp member which also includes downturnedside portions 122. The clamp also includes an elongated channel member123 having downturned ends 124 with rollers 125 mounted on said ends.The end portions of the member 123 extend through corresponding openings126 in the downturned sides 122 of the clamp channel 120. A roller 127is mounted on each side 122 for supporting the clamp on the feed tablesupport members 103 and 105 when the clamp is in the unclamped position,as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11.

The pneumatic cylinder 114 is mounted in the channel 120 and includes apiston rod 128 which extends downwardly through an aperture in the side121 and has its lower end attached to the channel member 123 forlowering and raising the same between clamped and unclamped positions. Afiber giass clamping member 129 extends between opposite downturnedsides 122 to cooperate with the member 123 in clamping and unclampingthe fiber glass coils 86 and 87 for advancing the fiber glass endportions into the pad cutting positions.

The clamp means 111 and 112 operate simultaneously by first actuatingthe cylinder 114 for advancing the piston rod 128 to press the fiberglass coils 86 and 87 between the members 123 and 129 (FIG. 9). For thatpurpose the rollers 125 are advanced to a position lower than therollers 127 and brought into contact with the feeding table surface 90.

As shown in FIG. 2 the table surface has an opening 130 which extendsbetween the members 103 and 105 for the table 90 and between the members104 and 106 for the table 91. The opening provides clearance forextension of the downturned sides 122 of the clamp and for movementthereof during advancement of the clamp. Advancement of the clamp isperformed by extension of the piston rod 119 (FIG. 7) from the cylinder113 after the cylinder 114 has moved the clamp to the clamping positionof FIG. 9. The clamp means advances from the retarded position of FIG. 8to a position nearer the saw blades 109 and 110, the movement beingsubstantially equal to the width of the fiber glas pad 42 to be cut offof the end portion of the coil 86.

In the clamped position the cylinder 114 is vertical due to the changeof position of the rollers 125 and 127 on the table 90 and the pivotalmovement of the cylinder 113 at the pivot 115. After the clamp hasadvanced the fiber glass into cutting position in the path of the saws109 and 110 the cylinders 114 are released to the unclamped position ofFIG. 8 and subsequently the cylinder 113 withdraws the rod 119 and pullsthe clamp back to the unclamped position of FIG. 8 ready for the nextcycle. The foregoing operations are controlled by limit switches whichoperate sequentially in a manner to be described below with respect toFIG. 18.

When a tile 38 is presented for filling at the station 5 a pair of fiberglass pads 42 are moved toward the cell openings 39 by carriage means130. In FIG. 4 an elongated pneumatic cylinder 131 having a piston rod132 is pivotally mounted at 133 on the frame members 64 above the tile(FIGS. 4 and 5). As shown in FIG. 12 the rod 132 is connected to thecarriage means 130 at nut 134 for advancing and retracting the carriagemeans. During the advance stroke the carriage means moves the fiberglass pads 42 toward the cell openings 39 and when the ends of the padsenter the openings the partial vacuum created therein sucks the padscompletely into the tile in cooperation with the advance of thecarriage.

During the advance of the carriage the saws 109 and 110 out another pairof pads 42 from the coils 86 and 87 of fiber glass for the next tile.When the carriage means 130 retracts to the position of FIGS. 12 and 13the clamps 111 and 112 together with the air cylinders 113 clamp andmove the fiber glass pads 42 into clamping position for the next tile38.

The carriage means 130 includes an upright support member 135 (FIGS. 12and 14) which has a pair of opposite outturned portions 136 anddownturned portions 137. The saws 109 and 110 are mounted on separatesimilar motors 138 and 139 which are pneumatically operated. The motorsare secured to L-shaped mounting brackets 140 and 141 which in turn aresecured to the outturned portions 136 of the member 135. The car- 'riageis maintained in position by a pair of vertically mounted rollers 142which engage a central guide track 143. The lower end of the member 135is supported on a clamp jaw 145 which rests upon a support plate 146 forthe fiber glass pads 42. Accordingly, the weight of the carriage issupported on the clamp jaw 145. With the piston rod 132 extended, therollers 142 engage the guide track 143 to aid the rod in holding thecarriage upright.

The carriage 130 also includes an upper clamp jaw 147 which is movablevertically to and from the clamp jaw 145 (FIG, 12). The jaws 147 areseparate rectangular plates mounted on the lower end of similar bolts148 which extend above a jaw mounting plate 149 which is a U-shapedmember including two leg portions 150 through which the bolts 148 extendand on which the jaws are secured in place by coil springs 151 aroundeach bolt 148. A nut and washer assembly 152 is attached to the upperend of each bolt. The leg portions 150 extend through rectangularapertures 153 in the downturned portions 137 of the member 135. Thus,the jaw mounting plate 149 extends across and between the portions 137on the side thereof opposite the upper pair of jaws 147. An invertedU-shaped member 154 is provided between the leg portions 150. The roller144 is mounted on 'a roller shaft 155 in said member.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 12, and 13 a pneumatic cylinder 156 is mounted onthe member 135 with a piston rod 157 extending and being attached to theU-shaped member 154. Accordingly, the upper clamp jaws 147 are moveddownwardlytoward the lower jaws 145 in order to grasp the ends of a pairof previously cut pads 42. The jaws 147 continue moving toward the lowerjaws 145 until the roller 144 strikes a roller bearing strip 158 whichextends toward the tile 38 at the feeding station 5. Accordingly, whenthe carriage 130 moves toward the tile 38 at the feeding station, theweight of the car riage is borne by the strip 158 on the roller 144 withthe lower jaws 145 raised slightly above their rest position as shown inFIG. 12.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 14, the surfaces of the feed tables90 and 91 are on the same level and slightly above a lower table level159 on which the lower pairs of jaws 145 normally rest. A pair of tablesupport members 160 and 161 are provided below each feed table 90 and 91in order to provide similar grooves 162 into which the cutting saws 109and 110 extend. The grooves 162 are coextensive with the tables so thatwhen the carriage 130 advances to feed precut pads 42 into a tile, thesaws 109 and 110 cut similar pads 42 from the coils 86 and 87 for thenext tile. Similar guides 163, 164, and 165 (FIG. 7) are provided on thetables 90 and 91 to hold the coils 86 and 87 in place. When the carriage130 returns to the retracted position (FIG. 12) the coils 86 and 87 onthe feed table are advanced to push the previously cut pads 42 intoposition for engagement by the clamp jaws 145 and 147.

Operation A loading operator who places tile 38 at the loading end ofthe conveyor belt 3 pushes a start button 166 (FIG. 18) to energize arelay 167 which is held energized through a contact 168. In addition twocontacts 169 and 170 are closed to supply one phase, 115 volt, A.C.currentto the electrical control system. Another con- 8 tact 171 isclosed by relay 167 to energize a solenoid 172 (FIG. 16) on a valve 173which supplies p.s.i. compressed air to the main air system from anindependent source.

A start button 174 is actuated to energize a motor starter 175 whichcloses the contacts 176 to a conveyor belt motor 177. The starter 175also closes a contact 178 which holds the circuit closed through thestarter when the start button 174 is released.

A start button 179 is then actuated to energize a motor starter 180which closes contacts 181 to a vacuum pump motor 182 for maintaining avacuum of 21 in the vacuum system. The starter 180 also closes a contact183 for maintaining the circuit closed through the starter.

A start button 184 is then actuated to energize a relay 185 which isheld energized through a contact 186. In addition, the relay closes thecontact 187 to energize a solenoid 188 on a valve 189 (FIG. 16) forsupplying compressed air to operate the air motors 138 and 139 for thecut-off saws 109 and 110, respectively.

A start button 190 is then actuated to energize a relay 191 which isheld energized through a contact 192 and a normally closed limit switch193. In addition, the relay 191 closes a contact 194 to energize asolenoid 195 on a valve 196 which causes the fiber glass lower clampcylinders 114 to advance and clamp the fiber glass strips 86 as shown inthe position of FIG. 9.

As the cylinders 114 are actuated from the position of FIG. 8 to that ofFIG. 9, a switch actuating lever 197 extending from the clamp 121actuates a limit switch 198 at each cylinder 114 which energizes a timer199 having contact 200 which closes and energizes a'solenoid 201 on avalve 202 causing the fiber glass feed cylinder 113 to advance thepiston rods for feeding the fiber glass strips 86 and 87 toward thepaths of the cut-oil saws 109 and 110 a distance equal to the width ofthe one pad 42 (approximately 3", the width of the tile openings 39) andat positions ready for cutting into individual pads 42 during the nextadvance of the carriage 130.

A loading operator then places a tile 38 on the moving conveyor belt andthe tile moves toward the filling station 4 at any selected speed in arange of from 36 to 108 feet per minute.

Each of the push buttons 166, 174, 179, and 184 is provided withcorresponding stop positions 166a, 174a, 179a, and 18411. Moreover, oneor more stop switches 203 and 204 may be provided on the apparatus 1such as at the loading and unloading positions of the conveyor belt.

As a tile 38 moves along the conveyor belt it strikes the limit switch45 which energizes a solenoid 206 on a valve 207 for applying a blast ofcompressed air through air nozzle 43 which blows grinding dust out ofthe tile cell openings 39. The dust is collected at the opposite end ofthe tile cell openings in a bag-type filter (not shown in the drawings)which may be attached at the end of the hood 44 (FIG. 2).

As the tile continues to move it strikes a limit switch 46 which closesand energizes a relay 209 and which is held energized through a contact210. A contact 211 is closed by the relay 209 for energizing a solenoid212 on a valve 213 for actuating the elevator cylinder 54 forrestricting the piston rod 55 upward to lift the tile 38 off of theconveyor belt 3 and to bring the holes 41 in the upper glazed surface 40of the tile into sealing engagement with the soft resilient pad 62.

During elevation of the tile the actuator 68 (FIG. 4) strikes themomentary switch 69 to energize a relay 214 which is held energizedthrough a contact 215 and a limit switch 216. Another contact 217energizes a solenoid 218 on a valve 219 for actuating fiber glass padclamp cylinder 156 to the advance position and clamping the ends of thefiber glass pads 42.

Another contact 220 is closed by the relay 214 for energizing a solenoid221 on a valve 222 for causing the vacuum nozzle cylinder 70 to advanceand seal the vacuum nozzle 72 against the end of the two upper cell openings 39 in the position of. the tile 38 on the elevator.

Another contact 223 is also closed for preparing to energize a solenoid224 on a valve 225 for applying vacuum in the nozzle 72 as soon as alimit switch 226 is struck. As shown in FIG. 12, the limit switch 226 ismounted on the guide track 143 and in a position of the path of travelof a switch strike bar 227 which is mounted on the upright member 135 ofthe carriage 130.

As was set forth above, when the clamp jaws 145 and 147 close on the endof the fiber glass pad 42, the carriage is elevated slightly when theroller 144 contacts the strip 158. As soon as the carriage 130 advancesto the left, as viewed in FIG. 12, for moving the pad 42 toward the tileopening 39, the end of the pad approaches said opening and the strikebar 227 turns on the vacuum through the limit switch 226.

When the fiber glass pad clamp cylinder 156 advances, the piston 157 forclosing the jaws 145 and 147 moves to the clamping position as shown inthe dotted positions in FIG. 12 at the tile openings 39. Before thecarriage 130 advances toward the tile with the jaws in said positions,8. limit switch 228 (FIGS. 7 and 12) is actuated when the switch strikesthe lower jaw 145. The switch 228 is mounted on a mounting arm 229extending. outwardly from the U-shaped member 154 (FIG. 7).

The switch 228 energizes a solenoid 230 on a valve 231 for actuating thefiber glass pad feed cylinder 131 (FIG. 4) to retract the piston rod 132for moving the carriage 130 (FIG. 12) from the solid to the dotted linepositions and thereby moving the fiber glass pads 42 toward the tileopenings.

Simultaneously during the stroke of the cylinder 131 the motor-drivensaws 109 and 119 cut off the next pair of fiber glass pads 42 to be usedfor the next tile 38. As set forth above, the strike bar 227 strikes thelimit switch for turning on the vacuum at the nozzle 72 to suck thefiber glass pads 42 into the cell openings 39 in the tile 38.

. At the same time the pad clamp cylinder 156 aids in feeding the fiberglass pads into the tile cells by causing a. slight tension or drag onthe pads as they are sucked intothe cell openings 39.

As. the fiber glass pads 42 are fed into the tile cells a limit switch232 is actuated by the pad feed cylinder 131 as it continues theretracting stroke of the piston rod 132. The limit switch 232 is mountedon the guide track 143 (FIGS. 12 and 14) which is also actuated by theactuator bar 227.. The switch 232 opens and tie-energizes the relay 191.which opens the contact 194 to dc-energize the solenoid 195 on the valve196, causing the pad clamp cylinder 114 to unclamp and release the fiberglass coils 86 and 87 on the feed tables 90 and 91.

During unclamping of the cylinders 114 limit switches 198 are releasedby the de-energizing timer 199 which may be set for any time interval.After a preset time delay (preferably /2 second) the lower feedcylinders 113 are retracted and ready to clamp and advance the fiberglass coils 86 and 87 for the next tile.

Upon completion of the advance of the carriage 130 to the broken lineposition (FIG. 12) the portion 136 of the carriage member 135 strikesthe limit switch 216 to tie-energize the relay 214 causing the solenoid218 on the valve 219 to de-energize and retract the pad clamp cylinder156 and to unclamp the fiber glass pads 4 in the tile.

The solenoid 221 on the valve 222 is also de-energized to cause thevacuum nozzle cylinder 70 to remove the nozzle 72 from the end of thetile. In addition, the solenoid 224 on the valve 225 is tie-energized toturn off the vacuum in the nozzle 72.

As the pad clamp cylinder 156 unclamps, the limit switch 228de-energizes the solenoid 230 on the valve 231 causing the pad feedcylinder 131 to advance the carriage 130 to its original position. Themotor-driven saws 109 and 110 return in the grooves 162.

As the feed cylinder 131 reaches the end of its advancing stroke, itstrikes a limit switch 236 to energize a relay 237 which is heldenergized through a contact 238 and a limit switch 67.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 12 the limit switch 236 is mounted on a mountingbracket generally indicated at 240 for holding the switch 236 in thepath of travel of the actuator bar 227 (FIG. 12). When the contact 241opens and tie-energizes the relay 209, it also de-energizes the soienoid212 on the valve 213 for releasing the elevator cylinder 54 therebylowering the tile under the belt 3.

When the elevator cylinder 54 is actuated it moves the elevator crossbar 56 to the broken line position of FIG. 6 in order to permit the tileto pass over the flanges 47 and 48 on the bars 49 and 50, respectively(FIG. 4).

When the contact 242 energizes a solenoid 243 on a valve 244, it causesthe elevator cylinder 54 to advance and lower the advancing tile to themoving belt and drives the tile flanges 47 and 48 below the conveyorbelt to allow the tile to return on the belt to the unloading position.

The pad feed cylinder 131 also strikes a limit switch 245 whichenergizes the relay 191 and automatically repeats the operation of thefiber glass coil clamping and feeding as described above.

The limit switch 245 is also mounted on the bracket 240 as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. An actuator 246 is mounted on the carriage member 135.

Asthe completed and stuifed tile 38 moves on the conveyor belt 3 itstrikes the limit switch. 67 which deenergizes the relay 237 and causesthe contacts 238 and 241 to :open and de-energize the solenoid 243 onthe valve 244 thereby allowing the elevator cylinder 54 to be returnedto its mid position by the springs 65 so that the tile stops or flanges47 and 48 extend above the conveyor belt surface 3 ready for the nexttile. From this point the automatic repeat sequence repeats indefinitelyuntil stopped by the operator.

During the foregoing operation of filling a particular tile 38 with thefiber glass pads 42, the next tile to be filled may reach the fillingstation 5 before filling of the prior tile is completed. As shown inFIG. 5 when the tile 38 is elevated, the bars 49 and 50 are raised abovethe surface of the (conveyor belt 3. In that position the ends of thebars are struck by the next tile 38a (broken lines) which prevents saidtile from entering the filling station zone and interfering withcompletion of the tile filling procedure.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed therein is by Way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and usefulconstruction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for filling a cell opening of structural clay tile with apliable sound-absorbing pad, including a support frame, tile-supportmeans on the frame for securing a tile in a fixed position, pad-movingmeans on the frame and aligned with a tile cell opening for moving apliable pad to one end of the opening, the pad-moving means beingmovable in alignment with the cell opening between a retracted positionand an advanced position at the one end of the cell opening, air suctionmeans on the frame at 1.1 the other end of the cell opening for creatinga partial vacuum in the cell opening, and the air suction meansincluding a detachable nozzle covering the other end of the cell openingwhen the pad-moving means advances toward the one end of the cellopening.

2. A device for filling a cell opening of structural clay tile with apliable sound-absorbing pad, including a support frame, conveyor beltmeans on the frame for moving a tile into a filling position, elevatormeans on the frame adjacent the filling position for lifting a tile offof the conveyor belt means, an air suction nozzle on the frame at thefilling position and movable between positions of attachment anddetachment with one end of the cell opening for creating a partialvacuum in the opening when in the attached position, pad-moving means onthe frame and aligned with a tile cell opening for moving a pliable padto the other end of the cell opening, and control means for sequentiallyoperating the elevator means, the air suction nozzle, and the pad-movingmeans.

3. A device for filling a cell opening of structural clay tile with apliable sound-absorbing pa-d, including a support frame, conveyor beltmeans on the frame for moving a tile into a filling position, elevatormeans on the frame adjacent the filling position for lifting a tile offof the conveyor belt means, an air suction nozzle on the frame adjacentthe filling positions and movable between positions of attachment anddetachment with one end of a tile cell opening for creating a partialvacuum therein, pad-moving means including a carriage on the frame andmovable between a retracted position and an advanced position at theother end of the cell opening, and control means for sequentiallyraising the elevator means, moving the air suction nozzle to theattached position, moving the carriage to the advanced position, movingthe air suction nozzle and carriage to the advanced position, moving theair suction nozzle and carriage to their detached and retractedpositions respectively, and lowering the elevator means.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 in which the carriage includes aclamp engaging one end of a paid, and in which the control means opensthe clamps in sequence with the advance and retracting movements of thecarriage.

5. The device as set forth in claim 3 in which the carriage includesmeans for cutting a sound-absorbing pad from a pad supply stripsimultaneously during advancement of the pad moving means toward thetile.

6. A device for filling cell openings of structural clay tile withsound-absorbing pads, the device including a support frame, releasablemeans on the frame for holding a tile in a fixed position, an airsuction nozzle n the frame for attachment to one end of a cell openingand producing a partial vacuum therein, pad-clamping means on the frameand registered with the cell opening for moving a sound-absorbing padlongitudinally toward the cell opening of a tile from the other end, thepad-clamping means being movable to and from a tile, and the means formoving the pad in the tile cell opening, whereby the pad is disposed ina tile cell opening in an evenly distributed condition.

7. A device for filling cell openings of structural clay tile withelongated pliable pads of absorbing material, the device including asupport frame, means on the frame for clamping a tile in a fixedposition, an air suction nozzle on the frame for attachment to one endof the cell openings and producing a partial vacuum therein, means onthe frame and registered with the cell openings for moving elongatedpads of pliable sound-absorbing material toward the other ends of thecell openings and including clamps engaging the end of the pads remotefrom said other end of the tile cell openings, whereby the pad isdisposed in a tile cell opening in an evenly distributed condition.

8. The device of claim 7 in which the means for inserting the padsincludes a carriage movable to and from the tile for moving the padstoward the cell openings, and including control means for sequentiallyattaching the nozzle to the cell openings, moving the carriage to theadvance position, and returning the nozzle and carriage to detached andretracted positions respectively of the tile cell openings.

9. A device for filling structural clay tile cells with sound-absorbingpads, the device including a frame, conveyor belt means on the frame formoving spaced tiles to a filling position, elevator means on the frameadjacent' the filling position for lifting a tile off of the conveyorbelt means, air suction means on the frame for attachment to one end ofthe cells, means on the frame and aligned with the tile cells forinserting pads into the other end of the cells and including pad clampsengageable with the ends of the pads remote from said other end of thetile cells and including a pad-clamp-mounting carriage mov able to andfrom the tile for moving pads toward the cells, and control means forsequentially raising the elevator means, moving the air suction means tothe attached position, moving the carriage to the advance position,moving the air suction means and carriage to their detached andretracted positions respectively, and lowering the elevator means.

10. A device for filling cell openings of structural clay tile withsound-absorbing pads, the device including a frame, conveyor belt meanson the frame for moving successive tiles into a filling position,elevator means on the frame adjacent said position for lifting a tileoff the conveyor belt means, air suction means on the frame adjacentsaid position for attachment to one end of the cell openings, means onthe frame for moving pads toward the other end of the cell openings andincluding pad clamps for engaging the end of pliable pads remote fromsaid other end of the tile cell, the pad-moving means also including acarriage movable to and from the tile for moving the pads toward thecell openings, means for feeding successive pads intermittently into thepath of movement of the carriage, means on the carriage for cuttingsuccessive pads from a strip of sound-absorbing material duringadvancement of the carriage toward the cell openings, control means forsequentially raising the elevator means, moving the air suction means tothe attached position, moving the carriage to the advance position,moving the air suction means and carriage to their detached andretracted positions respectively, and lowering the elevator means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,733 10/1907Knock 294l9 918,867 4/1909 Knock 294l9 2,731,183 l/1956 Shaw 52123 X2,949,715 8/1960 Tarletonet a1 53ll2 3,030,747 4/ 1962 Karpowicz 531 12WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR FILLING A CELL OPENING OF STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE WITH APLIABLE SOUND-ABSORBBING PAX, INCLUDING A SUPPORT FRAME, TILE-SUPPORTMEANS ON THE FRAME FOR SECURING A TILE IN A FIXED POSITION, PAD-MOVINGMEANS ON THE FRAME AND ALIGNED WITH A TILE CELL OPENING FOR MOVING APLIABLE PAD TO ONE END OF THE OPENING, THE PAD-MOVING MEANS BEINGMOVABLE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CELL OPENING BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITIONAND AN ADVANCED POSITION AT THE ONE END OF THE CELL OPENING, AIR SUCTIONMEANS ON THE FRAME AT THE OTHER END OF THE CELL OPENING FOR CREATING APARTIAL VACUUM IN THE CELL OPENING, AND THE AIR SUCTION MEANS INCLUDINGA DETACHABLE NOZZLE COVERING THE OTHER END OF THE CELL OPENING WHEN THEPAD-MOVING MEANS ADVANCES TOWARD THE ONE END OF THE CELL OPENING.